Aaron Schrank

1 week ago | laist.com | Aaron Schrank

California regulators have released a new proposal to allow companies to test self-driving heavy duty trucks on public roads. The California Department of Motor Vehicles announced last week that would allow autonomous vehicles over 10,000 pounds to be tested, including semi-trucks. Regulators say self-driving heavy duty trucks are already being tested in other states including Texas and Arizona. California is the only state with regulations that explicitly ban them.

1 week ago | laist.com | Aaron Schrank

The first free surgical center in the U.S. has opened in Orange County. The Lestonnac Free Clinic’s new surgery center will rely on a network of surgeons donating their time to perform low-risk vital procedures for patients who cannot afford care. Those procedures include hernia repairs to allow patients to get back to work, cataract surgeries to restore sight and colonoscopies to screen for cancer.

2 weeks ago | laist.com | Aaron Schrank

LAist relies on reader donations to power our nonprofit newsroom. Support LAist by giving now . Residents across Los Angeles County are seeing delays and temporary closures to some public services — including libraries and public health clinics — as a result of a massive labor union strike that kicked off Monday. The disruptions are expected to continue at least through Wednesday evening, county officials said.

2 weeks ago | laist.com | Aaron Schrank

LAist relies on reader donations to power our nonprofit newsroom. Support LAist by giving now . A Los Angeles County program that trains formerly incarcerated people for firefighting careers recently launched its first all-female cohort. Seventeen women are participating in the job training program, which will certify them to work in fire service jobs while providing on-site room and board, as well as support services.

2 weeks ago | laist.com | Aaron Schrank

More on the new case: The person was not infectious at the time of travel, the county Department of Public Health said. The agency said it’s working to identify people who may have been exposed after the person was experiencing measles symptoms and contagious. Where are most measles cases? As of this week, 884 measles cases in 30 states have been by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Most of these cases are linked to an ongoing measles outbreak in Texas, New Mexico and Oklahoma.